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Friday, 28 June 2013

Great Crested Grebes

Great Crested Grebe

As far as I am aware, We have only 2 resident Grebes in the UK. They are the Great Crested Grebe (Above) and the Little Grebe (Below). We also have the Black Necked Grebe, Red Necked Grebe and Slovenian Grebe during the winter mainly in the East of the UK.

Little Grebe

I haven't had much chance to observe the Little Grebe so can only relate that which I have read in books, The Little Grebe is Common to the whole of the UK, it has 1 brood of about 3-4 eggs in March-July.

I have been fortunate to observe the Great Crested Grebe far more. They have a wonderful courtship ritual Which consists of a lot of entwining of necks and Dancing with beakfuls of weed. (I apologise for the poor quality, they were a fair distance away from me)

They will dance with the weed for a while until the Female signals acceptance by dropping Her weed.

The Female accepts His proposal (He's pulled a bird! )

There then follows another bit of Dancing..

And, inevitably they do what comes natural ( you know, the Birds and the Bees stuff), They then construct a floating nest from weed and reeds, the Female will then lay 3-4 eggs.

The Eggs will hatch in 10-14 days and the young will be able to swim almost immediately, although they spend a lot of time hitching a lift on Mum or Dads back.

Diving for Weed

Bringing home material for the Nest.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy sharing my pics with you all. :-)

5 comments:

Rowland, I am enjoying reading your information and and looking at your pictures. I love nature and being in a wheelchair doesn't allow me to get out much. Thank you for taking the time to do this. :) Cathryn